II. TRENDS IN PESTICIDE USE

We will focus on farms, because farmers
consume (that is, use) about 77% of all pesticides in the US.
However, it is important to realize that the problem isn't all
related to farm uses. It is estimated that about 10% of the
land area in the US (including forests, lawns, etc.) is treated
annually with pesticides. Home gardeners are often some of
the most extravagant  and sloppy  users!) (One major
environmental science text book asserts that the average US homeowner
uses 2 - 6 times more pesticide per acre than do farmers.)

In the US, the total pounds of pesticide
active ingredients applied on farms increased 170% between 1964
and 1982 (the increase was much greater between ~ 1945 and the late 1990's). These
figures related only to the agricultural sector. In evaluating
these increases, it is important to remember the increased toxicity
of pesticides; one pound of active ingredient for current products
is many times greater than one pound for earlier generations of
pesticides in terms of toxicity. Pesticide use in US agriculture
has been relatively stable since the mid-1980's across all types of pesticides, however herbicide use is still tending to increase.
The next section of notes elaborates and updates information on
pesticide use in US agriculture.

One might think that this trend was driven
by increasing agricultural acreage over this time? Recall, during
this time, total acres under cultivation
basically decreased , so the increase in pesticide use wasn't
driven by increased agricultural acreage.

WHAT IS THE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
OF PESTICIDE USE?

North America uses about 30% of the world total

Europe uses about 27%

Japan uses about 12%

Approximately 31% is used in developing nations, including China

The next section (">>" at
the bottom of this page) discusses trends in pesticide use in
US agriculture in more detail. For general reminders on how to
navigate within and among these pages, click "Navigate
," here.

Page last updated October 22,
2012. Page maintained by Patricia Muir
at Oregon State University.